Rockville Goes Purple for National Recovery Month

Lighting, a Proclamation and a Race to Raise Awareness About Opioid Crisis

Rockville is marking National Recovery Month in September with a race in Town Square and observances throughout the month as the city continues its Rockville Goes Purple campaign against opioid abuse.

The Mayor and Council will proclaim September as National Recovery Month in Rockville during their meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9 at City Hall. Kirk Knight will receive the proclamation. Knight founded the Knight Foundation, which is dedicated to helping those suffering from addiction, and is a partner in the city’s Rockville Goes Purple effort.

The city is partnering with the Knight Foundation to present the Race4Recovery 5K on Sunday, Sept. 29, in Rockville Town Square. The annual run/walk promotes immediate action to those threatened by addiction and overdose, while raising awareness and breaking down the stigma of addiction, honoring those lost, and supporting those in the fight. The post-race includes food, music, awards and prizes. A virtual event will allow those who can’t attend to walk or run on their own and share a photo to show support. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, visit www.TheRace4Recovery.com.

Rockville truly goes purple this month, with signs in the Mayor and Council Chamber and purple lights shining on City Hall and the city’s police station, and strung on streetlights around Town Center.

Over the next six months, the City of Rockville, the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, and the Montgomery County Collaboration Council will conduct free training sessions on how to identify an opioid overdose and use the rescue drug Narcan (also known as Naloxone) to reverse its effects. The first will be held from 1-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Thomas Farm Community Center, 700 Fallsgrove Drive. Participants must be 18 or older. To register, call 240-777-1836 or email OverdoseResponseProgram@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Rockville Goes Purple also will work with youth on addiction awareness and prevention activities throughout the 2019-2020 school year.